Checkrein



Patented January 19, 1904.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

WILLIAM HENRY FULLER, OFABBEVILLE, LOUISIANA.

CHECKREIN.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 749,929, dated January19, 1904.

Application filed August 26, 1903- To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, WILLIAM HENRY FULLER, a citizen of the UnitedStates, residing at Abbeville, in the parish of Vermilion and State ofLouisiana, have invented new and useful Improvements in Gheckreins, ofwhich the following is a specification.

This invention relates particularly to checkreins, and has for itsobject to produce an improved article of that kind the particularcharacteristics of which are that it is a springrein, extensible andlimber, but having means whereby it may be made non-extensible, ifdesired. It is particularly advantageous in that the spring allowsmovement of the horses head in all directions, but tends to return thesame to the original position at all times. It enables a horse to carryhis head at ease and avoids the numerous objections incident to the useof rigid or non-extensible checkreins.

In the accompanying drawings an overcheck is illustrated.

Figure 1 is a side view thereof with the spring extended. Fig. 2 is aside view showing the rein so adjusted that it will not stretch, andFig. 3 is a longitudinal section.

Referring specifically to the drawings, the rein comprises a tubularleather housing 6, sewed at one end to a loop 7 adapted to be attachedto a bridle. At the other end the housing is split to produce two flaps8, which have eyelets 9. Within the housing is a coiled spring 10, oftempered wire, fastened at one end to the loop 7 and at the other end toa loop 11, adapted to hook over the check-hook on the harness saddle.Projecting oppositely from the stem of this loop are two buttons 12,adapted to engage in the eyes of the flap when desired. A rein soconstructed is perfectly limber, and when the flaps of the leatherhousing are unbuttoned the spring is extensible the tension on theleather housing and prevents stretching of the rein. The housing alsohas the function of preventing the horses mane from becoming tangled inthe spring. By using a spring of suflicient flexibility the horse willbe given perfect liberty with his head, and there is no danger ofbreaking the rein, because it will spring out to any length rhmsgiblyincident to the movement of a horses Although an overcheck isillustrated, the invention may be applied to an under or side check byusing two of the reins in an obvious manner. Also a core or strip ofrubber may be used instead of the coiled metallic spring. The inventionis not limited to the exact use illustrated, but the rein may be appliedto WILLIAM HENRY FULLER.

Witnesses:

JOHN B. SHAW, G. A. SCHILLING.

